The James Beard Awards are among the nation’s most prestigious honors recognizing leaders in the culinary and food media industries. We’re delighted that the Upcountry is represented so well!
Wade’s Restaurant, which opened in Spartanburg in 1947, is one of six restaurants named a 2024 James Beard America’s Classics Winner.
Wade’s joins restaurants from New York, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, and San Francisco, and on the prestigious list.
To win this food award, restaurants must be over 10 years old and “locally and independently owned” with “timeless appeal” and must be “beloved in its region for food that reflects the character and cultural traditions of its community.”
Wade’s certainly meets the criteria! This family-run meat-and-three restaurant uses family recipes, and according, to The Beard Foundation, 2,500 guests visit daily.
Greenville has its first-ever winner of a James Beard Award, the culinary industry’s highest honor, and but it’s not a chef. Local filmmakers Undercurrent Film Company won for “Visual Media – Short Form” for their work, “Great Wall” which follows Khailing Neoh as she opened the popular downtown dim sum restaurant Sum Bar.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Comal 864, who’s owner and chef Dayna Lee Márquez was named as a semifinalist for the 2023 James Beard Awards. Her restaurant began as a pop-up, but because of the success opened a permanent location in late 2023.